Vallathol Narayana Menon - Modern Indian Malayalam Poet - Personalities of Modern India
Vallathol Narayana Menon - Modern Indian Malayalam Poet [ 1878-1958 ]
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| Vallathol Narayana Menon |
Vallathol Narayana Menon - Modern Indian Malayalam Poet [ 1878-1958 ]
Vallathol Narayana Menon is a major modern Indian poet who along with Kumaran Asan and Ulloor forms the trinity of modern Malayalam poetry. Vallathol sang of Indian nationalism in his poems and his beautiful verses urged the masses to espouse the freedom cause by inspiring unity among the various communities.
His songs i praise of his country also depicted the various turmoils engulfing her under the British rule to awaken millions of Indians to the glory of their motherland.
Born in Chennara village ( Kerala ) in October 1878, Vallathol Narayana Menon was mainly involved in the study of Sanskrit and the Ayurveda system. He began writing poems in Sanskrit and Malayalam from a young age. After becoming the manager of Kerala Kalpadrumam, a publishing house, he translated the Valmiki Ramayana.
Though he became totally deaf in 1909, this affected neither his literary pursuits nor his journalistic career. In 1921, he met Gandhi and came to regard him as his teacher. His dream of establishing of Kathakali Art Center came true with the founding of Kerala Kalamandalam in 1930.
The Madras Government made him 'Poet Laureate' in 1948.
From 1950 to 1953, he visited a number of countries abroad including Poland, Soviet Union and China participating in important functions and meeting leaders. He received a golden 'Manihara' from the Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru during the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1955.
The Nehru Peace Prize was conferred posthumously upon him by the Soviet Land in 1966.
Of his many poems devoted to the nation's cause and that are
- Motherland (1917)
- Salutation to the Mother (1918)
- The Puranas (1918)
- My Ingratitude (1919)
- This way, This way (1921)
- Unity Before Everything Else (1924)
- Our Reply (1925)
- The Blood Must Boil (1933)
- Please Forgive us, Mother (1941)
Higher and Higher (1923) was a panegyric on the Indian National Congress flag that he saw as a symbol for India's freedom and progress. Peasants song (1919), inspired by Gandhi's philosophy of ahimsa, is a call for peace.
A tribute to Gandhi emerged in the form of My Master (1922). Our Mother (1949) was written on the first death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Vallathol museum
Vallathol museum located in vallathol nagar in thrisuur district was the residence of Vallathol Narayana Menon
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| Vallathol Mesuem |
The museum houses the works of Vallathol and also lists in detail his achievements. Apart from this it showcases his pictures and items used by him like shoes and walking sticks.
The museum cannot be considered a tourist destination and of importance to a common traveler. It is of historic value it has is related to Vallathol himself and the areas that has felt his touch, so this museum is best suited for someone studying Kerala history and culture.
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